Item F1
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
MEETING DATE: August 20, 2008
DIVISION: COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
BULK ITEM: Discussion Item
DEPARTMENT: AIRPORTS
STAFF CONTACT PERSON: Peter Horton
Phone: 292-3518
AGENDA ITEM WORDING:
Discussion of the Runway Safety Area Project and Last Stand's appeal of the SFWMD permit approval.
ITEM BACKGROUND:
On October 1, 1999, the US Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration established the Runway Safety Area
(RSA) Program. It directed that all RSAs at federally obligated airports and all RSAs at airports certificated under 14 Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) part 139 shall conform to the standards contained in AC 150/5300-13 Airport Design, to the extent practicable.
For the past 8 years, Key West International Airport (KWIA) has worked with the Federal Aviation Administration and regulatory
authorities to comply with this directive.
To facilitate this process, Monroe County submitted an Environmental Assessment (EA) dated July 23, 2007. In response, the FAA
issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) based on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (40 CFR Part 1500) as
well as FAA Order 1050.1 E and 5050.4B for implementing the procedural provisions ofNEP A.
Most recently, KWIA submitted a permit application to South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). In July KWIA received
unanimous approval from SFWMD Board to proceed with the Project.
However, on July 17th 2008, Protect Key West and the Florida Keys, Inc. d/b/a "LAST STAND" petitioned a Request for
Administrative Hearing appealing the SFWMD permit. At this point, the Airport will be required to enter into a quasi judicial process
to determine the Project's future.
The FAA has approved over 7.5 million dollars for the Project in two FAA Grants. Their share of the cost is 95% with the remainder
coming from Passenger Facility Charges (PFC) and Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) funds.
What is at risk here is Time, Money and the Liability that the County assumes by this delay. Monroe County and Key West
International Airport needs to vigorously defend this Permit application and guard against the inherent liability associated with any
delay. Money has been allocated within the second FAA Grant to pay for legal council to assist with this situation.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION: Approval to submit PFC apps #8 (10-15-03), #9 (08-18-04) and #14 (103-21-07)
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES: NJA
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: N/A
TOTAL COST: N/A BUDGETED: N/A
COST TO AIRPORT: N/A
COST TO PFC: N/A
COST TO COUNTY: NJA
SOURCE OF FUNDS: N/A
REVENUE PRODUCING:
NJA
AMOUNT PER MONTH /YEAR: N/A
APPROVED BY: County Attorney N/A
OMB/Purchasing N/A
Risk Management N/A
DOCUMENTATION:
Included X
Not Required
AGENDA ITEM #
DISPOSITION:
ORDER
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
5200.8
SUBJ: RUNWAY SAFETY AREA PROGRAM
1. PURPOSE.
This order establishes
a. The Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Runway Safety Area (RSA) Program
and
b. The procedures that FAA employees will follow in implementing that program.
2. DISTRIBUTION.
This order is distributed to the division level in the Office of Airport Safety and Standards and
the Office of Airport Planning and Programming; to the division level in the regional Flight
Standards, Airway Facilities, and Air Traffic Divisions; to the branch level in the regional
Airports Divisions; and a standard distribution to all Airport District Offices.
3. EFFECTIVE DATE. October 1, 1999
4. BACKGROUND.
The RSA is an integral part of the runway environment. RSA dimensions are established in
AC 150/5300-13, Airport Design and are based on the Airport Reference Code (ARC). The
RSA is intended to provide a measure of safety in the event of an aircraft's excursion from the
runway by significantly reducing the extent of personal injury and aircraft damage during
overruns, undershoots and veer-offs.
5. OBJECTIVE
The objective of the Runway Safety Area Program is that all RSAs at federally obligated
airports and all RSAs at airports certificated under 14 Code of Federal regulations (CFR)
part 139 shall conform to the standards contained in AC 150/5300-13 Airport Design, to the
extent practicable.
6. RESPONSIBILITY AND DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY.
a. The Regional Airports Division Manager ensures that the program is implemented in
accordance with the procedures provided in this directive.
b. The Regional Airports Division Manager approves all RSA determinations required by
Paragraph 8.0 of this order. This authority may be delegated to the ADO Manager, only
when it is determined practicable to obtain the RSA.
Dist: A-W(AS/AP)-2; A-X (FS/AF/AT)-2); A-X(AS)-3; A-FAS-O (STD)
Initiated by AAS-310
Each regional airports division shall collect and maintain data on the RSA for each runway
at federally obligated airports and airports certificated under part 139 within their
geographic purview. The data will include the current width of each RSA and the length that
the RSA extends beyond each runway end. The data will also contain the standards that
apply to each RSA at the airport. In addition, all objects within the area that comprises a
standard RSA shall be documented. Appendix 1, Runway Safety Area Database, provides
a format for this data collection.
8. RSA DETERMINATIONS.
a. Supporting Documentation. The region/ADO shall prepare documentation for each
RSA. Appendix 2, Supporting Documentation for RSA Determinations, provides guidance
that must be adhered to in preparing this documentation. The Regional Airports Division
will decide the level of detail required for all planning, environmental, and engineering
factors that are to be incorporated in analyzing the practicable alternatives. The objective
is to assure that accurate and complete information supports the decision making process
on RSA determinations.
(1) For an RSA that does not meet current standards, the Regional Airports Division
Manager will make a determination as required in paragraph 8b, based on this
documentation.
(2) Determinations are based on the best, current, available information. However,
information that becomes available at a later date can effect changes or revisions to a
determination and, as a result, updates the determination. For example, the final
determination may depend on the outcome of an Environmental Assessment process.
Until that outcome is known, a determination is made on the best, current, available
information.
(3) Although for data collection purposes it is convenient to describe the RSA in terms
of runway ends, the determination shall be made for the entire RSA, i.e., both runway ends
as well as the full width.
b. Determination. The Regional Airports Division Manager shall review the data collected
for each RSA in Paragraph 7, along with supporting documentation prepared by the
region/ADO for that RSA, and make one of the following determinations:
(1) The existing RSA meets the current standards contained in AC 150/5300-13.
(2) The existing RSA does not meet standards but it is practicable to improve the RSA
so that it will meet current standards.
(3) The existing RSA can be improved to enhance safety, but the RSA will still not meet
current standards.
(4) The existing RSA does not meet current standards, and it is not practicable to
improve the RSA.
C. Form of Determination. The RSA determination will be signed and dated by the
Regional Airports Division Manager and kept on file along with the supporting
documentation in the regional office or ADO. The determination and its date will also be
included in the RSA database. See Appendix 1.
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10/01/99
5200.8
d. Revision to Determination. If new information becomes available, the Regional
Airports Division Manager may issue a revised determination. The revised determination
shall be in a form required by Paragraph 8(c) and supported by documentation required by
Paragraph 8(a). The date of the revised determination shall be recorded in the RSA
database.
9. TIMING OF DATA COLLECTION AND DETERMINATION.
The RSA inventory and RSA determinations specified in paragraph 7 and 8 will be
completed in accordance with the following schedule:
a. For runways used by air carriers at airports certificated under 14 CFR Part 139,
the RSA inventory and determination will be completed by June 30, 2000.
b. For all other runways at federally obligated airports, the RSA inventory and
determination can be done at any time, but will normally be done during the master
planning process. However, the inventory and determination must be completed prior to
any project for runway construction, reconstruction, or significant expansion that involves
Federal funds.
10. IMPLEMENTATION OF RSA IMPROVEMENTS.
a. A project to improve an RSA in accordance with the determination made in Paragraph
8 may be initiated at any time.
b. Whenever a project for a runway involves construction, reconstruction (includes
overlays), or significant expansion, the project shall also provide for
improving the RSA in accordance with the determination made in Paragraph 8.
Reconstruction and significant expansion are construed as any project that results in
changing the capability of the airport or the load-bearing strength of the pavement,
restores the original design life of the pavement, or changes the actual or potential design
aircraft use.
(1) The requirement to upgrade RSA under Paragraph 10b is applicable at part
139 airports regardless of the funding source for the runway project.
(2) The requirement to upgrade RSA under Paragraph 10b is applicable at federally
obligated airport, if Federal or Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) funds are used for the
project.
11. OVERSIGHT.
The Airport Office of Safety and Standards (AAS) is the office of primary interest.
This office may selectively review RSA analyses or the entire program on a periodic basis
to assure consistency. The office also provides consulting and guidance in judging the
merits of a specific alternative.
C1/A~
David L. Bennett
Director of Airport Safety and Standards
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